Welcome to F1GMAT’s Ask Atul Jose series. Today’s question is regarding a common but important hurdle that you must cross to receive admissions. The question is:
Q) Last year – I couldn’t convert two interviews. This admission season, I fumbled through an interview that obviously didn’t lead to a win. I have an interview next week with an M7 School and to say that I am nervous is an understatement. How should I control my nerves?
I feel that you are focusing on the wrong problem. The question of controlling nerves happens for those who care and those who are not prepared. You will not see a person who doesn’t care about the interview asking this question. So you do care. Some sort of nervousness is natural, but if your nerves are pulling you out of the experience, then it is time to overprepare, script your answers and practice like crazy for at least 3-4 hours every day leading up to the interview.
If the interview is a zoom/skype interaction, then you have a lot of advantages.
1. You can write the talking points on a card behind the camera and look at them strategically without moving your eyes too aggressively. So even if nerves force you to blank out, you can search and find the next talking point.
2. It is not as intimidating to talk through zoom/skype as shaking hands with a person of authority or a person who will decide your future. That tension is cut off with virtual meetings and in a pandemic or situations where the interviewer can’t meet you in person.
Having said that, overpreparing is the only solution for those who can’t handle the nerves.
I recommend scripting for all the typical questions like:
1) Why MBA
2) Why our Business School
3) Why the post-MBA industry or post-MBA function if you are a career switcher
4) What are your strengths
5) What are your weaknesses
6) Questions for me
While scripting, you must focus on two things:
1) Storytelling
2) Incorporating Emotion in your scripts
Storytelling is a learned skill that you might have figured out while writing the essays. If you have not, I know it is a shameless plug but do read my Winning MBA Essay Guide that breaks down all the storytelling techniques.
For interviews, you don’t have to include a lot of background information. Just enough context to keep the interest of the interviewer in your story. So instead of directly answering why MBA with a specific professional goal, you can always share the journey of trying to pivot into management right from your first job. If you have entrepreneurial or start-up experience, share the multi-functional exposure and how that experience sparked an interest in an MBA program. Or you can share the journey of excelling in your functional role, and then an MBA becomes an extension of preparing yourself for a larger goal or the next big milestone.
The second preparation technique requires some practice. Once you script the answers to the commonly asked question, it is time to practice. I would say, stand in front of a mirror and prepare as you can see how you look and sound while answering the question. Authenticity cannot be captured with just good intentions. It should show in your face through the manner in which you complete a sentence, the belief in the phrasing, or the determination that you demonstrate while sharing your post-MBA goals. There are a lot of cues that the interviewer will look into. Unless you bring emotion into your answers, the interviewer will struggle to find that spark. Obviously, don’t overdo it.
Just enough emotion and storytelling to keep the interest in your candidacy.
I have written extensively on how to prepare and script in F1GMAT’s MBA Admissions Interview Guide. You can purchase it at F1GMAT Store, or you can subscribe to our mock interview service, where I would be personally preparing you to excel in the interview.
I am Atul Jose – the Founder and Consultant at F1GMAT.
See you in the next #askAtuljose series.
